My high school job was babysitting 3 kids for our family friends. Since I was not a big fan of debit cards or credit cards, I used cash for everything. I couldn’t wait to get paid so that on my way home I could stop and spend $4 on a hot fudge ice cream from our local ice cream shop. Since most of the time I would get change back, I would save all my coins in a jar.
For 3 years, I faithfully saved loose change. And one day (in college) I decided to count my coins and buy something nice for myself. At first I considered taking all the coins to a coin counter at a local grocery store, but changed my mind after realizing that I would have to pay for my money to be counted. Well, I liked math so I decided to count all the coins and roll them myself.
The whole rolling process took me no time, because TV kept me company. When I finished and added up all the numbers, I had over $300 dollars!!! I decided to buy my very first digital camera. I recall looking at different models and was struck with all the choices. Do I want a colorful camera or a gray one? Well, I decided to stick with Sony silver finish digital camera that has faithfully served me now for almost 5 years. I know we are a little bit behind on new technology, but our camera works great!
The point of me sharing about my digital camera is to show that every penny can add up. I challenge you to stop spending your loose change and instead put it all in a “cookie” jar. You can also use the same concept and save all the $1 dollar bills. You will be surprised how quickly money adds up and you won’t even miss your coins. My husband and I have been saving our change now for several years with hopes of using it one day during our vacation to Ireland. Although this trip is ways away, it is never to early or too late to start saving.
When my Mr. went on Deployment when our first daughter was a baby, I moved home with my parents. I used to do that with spare change in my pocket, but also, I'd go to the local army base and i'd want a cinnabon, so you had to pay cash there. I'd either take it out of the ATM or get cash back from the register, no matter if it was $5 or $10 or $20 I took from the register, I always put the change in this tiny piggy bank I had bought at the dollar store! In six months I had $80 bucks in CASH ALONE! I had another $60 in change... (I didn't eat that many cinnabons, I swear, it was my rule for all cash!) so we had $140 cash to drive across the country with to get back to our duty station. We used it as food, and made it from Seattle to just out side of Colorado. Which, I must say was pretty good for us! lol...
ReplyDeletethis is long, sorry!
Another time, I found all the loose change in my house, I had $80!!!! I saved it for Christmas and bought the Mr. some golf clubs! (I used some of his money too! Its a nice set!) but the $80 helped!!!
wow... what an insightful post! I must start saving loose change. it never occurred to me. Thanks for sharing,
ReplyDeleteRuth
My husband is very faithful at this wonderful habit. I normally use the debit card for the purchases that I make, but when I do have change I save it in a pretty blue/green canning quart jar. He saves his in an old coffee jar. They both sit on his dresser in our room. It is amazing how much a person can save by doing this!
ReplyDeleteFunny, when we bought our apartment we had to put down 20% down payment + closing cost + moving expenses, pretty much all of our savings are gone.... I rolled up all our loose coins in order to feed us for a week,before our next paycheck. I have $170.00, yay for loose coins.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Have you read this one at A Holy Experience?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/05/intimate-issues-making-of-marriage-bed.html
If you read to the bottom of the post, you'll find her idea about saving money for a second honeymoom. So sweet.
My husband worked as a bagger at a grocery store when he was in high school. He saved all the little tips he made (in coins). When we got engaged, he used that savings of $350 to buy my engagment ring.
ReplyDeleteI've always saved coins and I've just recently started stashing away one-dollar bills. It's an easy way to save and a little quickly turns into a lot!